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April 29, 2010

AIDS Report Issues Call to Action for New York Latinos

The Latino Commission on AIDS (LCOA) has released a new report titled New York State Responds to the Latino HIV/AIDS Crisis and Plans for Action, with the ultimate goal of reducing new infections among that population.

The report profiles various New York Latino populations, such as Latino immigrants, Latinos over 50, and Latino men who have sex with men. In addition to including data on each group, the report lists the specific HIV/AIDS needs for each population and then offers prioritized solutions to address them.

Solutions range from developing culturally sensitive education campaigns to working with lawmakers to pass specific bills.

“This important report will guide us to better address the needs of our communities,” Guillermo Chacon, LCOA’s president, said in a statement. “We hope that by developing collaborations and partnerships, we will gain a greater understanding of how to address the many health challenges faced by our Latino communities during these difficult economic times.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Latinos represented 16 percent of New York State’s population in 2007 but accounted for 30 percent of its HIV/AIDS cases. CDC data also show that Latinos progress to AIDS faster than any racial or ethnic group, with 42 percent being diagnosed with AIDS within 12 months of their HIV diagnosis compared with a 34 percent late-diagnosis rate among white non-Hispanics and 35 percent among African Americans.

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